DEVONSHIRE BUTTER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 498, 21 July 1932, Page 2

DEVONSHIRE BUTTER

NEW ZEALAND COMPETITION During June, statements 'have been made that the large imports of New Zealand butter are ad. versety affecting sales of the Devon and Cornish product. Inquiries made by the West, em Morning News and Daily Gazette (Plymouth) reveal that, while in many districts there is a greater demand for New Zealand butter, this is not the sole reason for the slump in the sale of West Country butter.

In this connection an interesting explanation is offered by the principal, of a prominent Exeter dairy, who said at the moment there was no demand for New Zealand butter. She | explained that owing to the lateness of the season there was no fruit ! about*, and consequently there was no sale for cream. Tims local producers had to turn the cream into butter, so bringing a lot of butter on the market which [otherwise would not have been sold. As soon as the fruit came in season there would be a demand for cream, however, and so loss butter would be produced locally. Naturally, when fruit came in local producers would devote themselves to making cream, which at the cheapest Avas sold at 2s 4d per lb, whereas butter practically had to be sold at any price that could be obtained for it. Thus as soon as cream was saleable people , would turn to the cheaper New Zealand butter. That happened every year. Standardised Quality Torquay traders , stated that New Zealand butter was generally pre. feared by the njowsewlfe to Devonshire butter. There was, however, no" difficulty in felling Devonshire butter if it were made properly, but New Zealand) butter was preferred for two reasons —it. was cheaper in price and seemed to be standardised, for tho quality rarely varied, whilst one could not always depend r.n Devonshire butter. As long as New Zealand butter suited their purpose, people would not buy any other.

In the Tiverton district it was • stated that farmers would have little : difficulty in disposing of their but- ■ ter if a more uniform standard ■ could be obtained. New Zealand but. Iter was always maintained at a standard, and this was said to be the reason for its popularity.

::::t^:::::::::i:::::::::::::::::::;::^::::::::::::::::::::::::::;:::::;:::Puzzling Question At a recent sale at Addington two vealers sent in from Ashburtou way were sold and alter railage and other charges were deducted the vendor received the munificent return of 5s 6d for the pair. They were born in August I#al fjjfevei'oire at, time of sale would be 10 months (eld when they should, moderately done by, weigh about 3001 b each. Estimating the retail price at 4d per lb, the two would realise £10! Taking the retail price at even half this amount how is the margin of cash between producer and consumer divided?

| Aeronlanes in Farm Practice ! Aeroplanes are not usually associI ated with farm practice, though they ! have been used a few times to scat- | ter grass seed over wet lands. 1 An aeroplane was recently used in | U.S.A. (on a Crook County farm) to ! effect what the Yankees call the I "tripping" of alfalfa blossoms in an ! attempt to get a better seed set. The experiment was conducted on the j farm of G. C. Larkin, of Prioeville, Oregon, it consisted of so directing the propeller blast that a strong wind ! was applied to the alfalfa plants. The ! plane skimmed back and fprth across I the surface of the held until the dej sired strip had been treated. ! The results were astonishing. Mr. | Larkin harvested 2001 b of "aeroplane ! seed" per acre from the treated pic:, iOn the portion not treated he got j f.Oib pei- acre. Neighbouring farmers harvested an average of from 301 b to 501 b per acre.

Increase in Dairy Cows According to figures supplied by Mr. Dynes Fulton there has been an increase of cows milked in the Dominion amounting to over . 3-.0.000 head during the past two years. Against this the average production per cow lias been gradually decreasing Wv the past three years, having receded from 21Slb in 1929-30 feci 2011 b in 1930-31 and approximately 1851 b in tiie present year. Mr. Full on

gives as one reason that a considerable area of sheep country which has been diverted to dairying is not yet in condition to give maximum results. An.' (her reason is that the large increase naturally paused a greater percentage of heifers to be included. The Chief reason in his opinion is the decrease in the amount of fertiliser used. In the year 1929-30, which was the peak year in production per cow, the fertiliser used amounted to IScwt per cow. The following year the fertiliser used dropped to 3.4 cwt per cow. and last year 2.Bcwt per cow was the quantity used.